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Athens News Courier (Newspaper) - February 16, 2005, Athens, Alabama
Showing mettle
Athens wrestlers take gold, two silvers and a bronze medal in USA state meet
Project Linus
Shoals quilters participate in a nationwide effort to comfort children in crisis 5AThe News-Courier
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Skkvinc; Athens and Limestone County: A Community of Tradition and Future
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50 Cents
Annie Parker
Jennifer Turner tells the story of Annie ITirker, a former Athens 1 emale College student who became a missionary in the C ongo. Part 1 inside
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I lev, Sound Off:
1 would like to connnent on the recent speed limit change on U.S. 72 from Athens to RogersN ille.
1 lydroplaning can be caused by poor pav'ement macroie.xture and or poor drainage from a roadway. Does US. 72 have ruts worn in the lanes from yeais of driv ing? Speed does increase the risk if the conditions are there to cause hydroplaning. Reduced speed does help reduce the odds of hydropkming, but are there things that can be changed to reduce the amount of vv ter causing the condition“.^
Take a look along the side of the road as you travel.
Would a really good cleaning and grading of the roadside help tremendously? 1 remember west of Shaw road when that area was graded a time back.
It did help.
Yes, it does make an ugly roadside w ith the piled dirt, but there is equipment which can remov'e this as well.
More Sound Off Valley, 5A
Index
Classified 4-7B
Comics..........8B
Health...........7A
Ledger..........10A
Movie Listing 3A
Obituaries 2A
Lucian Abercrombie Vida Judd Collier Paulette Shields Laipply Lillian Hilliard Morrison Gloria Lee Woodfin Sports .........1-3B
Daily Bible .Moment
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Voters renew tax
Local residents show support for schools
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phiKa alhensncws-couricr.com \Tlcrs in /\thcns and throughout Limestone C ounty overwhelmingly endorsed the renewal of an ad valorem tax package earmarked for local schools in a Tuesday referendum.
1 he referendum acfuaily consisted of four separate taxes, with two shared by Athens C ity and l.imestonc County school systems, one earmarketi for i-ounty schools and another for eit} schools. I he taxes have been on the books for 40 vears. but must be renewed
every 20 years. Voters renewed all four levies by a wide margin.
“I see this as a vote of confidence in our school systems,” said Athens City Schools Superintendent Dr. Orman Bridges.
“The voters have issued a mandate to support education in Athens and Limestone County. They support the future of our children.”
Dr. Barry Carroll, Limestone County superintendent of education, expressed sur-
See Tax, Page 6A
Nevvs-Courier К iin Rynders
Wanda Hightower, above, casts her vote Tuesday at Trinity Seventh Day Adventist Church on Browns Ferry Road. At left, Cowart Elementary School first grade student Taylor Parsley, who was heading to her car with her bookbag Tuesday, is one of many local students who would benefit from the tax.
Planning Commission delays action on detention pond issue
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luincvid iitlh’usiu’w s-councr.com Athens Planning Commission delayod approval ol a subdivision and detention poiuis luesilay night as ( hairman Rod 1 luffman said the Commission lacked enough mlbmiation to make a decision.
“1 want 10 apologize that weVe not taking that up. he said. “But we’re I list not reatly."
llutfman said the developer had withdrawn a request for preliminary approval, but the issue w ill likely be on the agenda for the next meeting.
The Commission voted to delay action on three items concerning Breekenridge Subdivision Addition 2 on Tuesday nights agenda a public hearing, preliminary approval and sito plans for the subdiv ision.
City Planner Scott ■- mess said the detention pond for the subdiv i-sion would prov ide relief to residents who’ve experienced Hooding problems.
Athens currently has one operating seven-acre detention pond otT West llobhs Street behind Hobbs Street C hurch of Christ while an additional two are under construction on l.lm Street. Live hund-ed thousand of the S75().{)(){) total cost for the two Llm Street detention ponds vvas supplied to the city through a community development building grant.
The fourth of these ponds, to be located otT Market Street and Jackson Drive, is expected to reduce Hooding problems in the area surrounding the proposed subdivision off VV^cst Market
See Ponds, Page 6A
A chili Saturday
News-Courier/Amanda Siniard Sub Deb Club member Lindsey Stewart and Katrina Harrell paint the window of a downtown Athens business to promote Saturday’s Hospice Chili Challenge.
30 in chili Challenge
BV T.VSHIA Lo\ ELL
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It's a chili lovers dream.
It’s the 17th annual Hospice of I.imestone County Chili Challenge and it gets underway Saturday at Athens High School.
Thirty challengers will be putting their recipes to the test. Participants include teams from Athens Intermediate School, Boxcar Diner, Corr Wireless, and WKAC radio.
“We will have entertainment,” said Hospice executive director Pat King.
Miss Alabama Shannon Camper,
See Chili Challenge, Page 6A
Experience the Challenge
The 17th annual Hospice Chili Challenge is scheduled to take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Athens High School. Tickets are $7 and children 10 and under get in free. Thirty individuals or groups will be competing.
AG opinion sought on water board
Carter says state may not have authority to change it
B\ .SONNV I t RNER
sonnyia Lithcnsncws-couricr.com
Limestone County's legislative delegation may not have the authority to change the w ay the county water board now operates although that will be a matter for the state attorney general to decide. Rep. Tommy Carter (D-Llkmont) said Tuesday .'
“We’re researching it and it looks like we ll have to get an attorney general's opinion on it.” said Carter, who says the way the stale statute is set up the only way to change it would be to change e\ eiy water authority board in the state.
The Limestone County C ommission adopted a resolution two weeks ago asking the county's legislative delegation to sponsor a bill that would give county commissioners the power to dismiss members of the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority.
The resolution, adopted by a 4-0 vote, also asks for legislation to limit the water board appointments to four-year terms with a maximum of tw o consecutive terms and to allow the commission to dismiss a board appointee by unanimous vote and to call for an audit by the State Examiners of Public .Xccounts.
“Our legislative delegation asked for this resolution and they said they would look at it.” said Limestone C'ommission Chairman David Seibert. “If they can't do it, then 1 hope they would come up with some further legislation that would give us some control. There has got to be accountability."
Seibert has called for water board members to resign because he says the board has lost the confidence and trust of the people. But the four remaining members on the board have refused to resign saying they have done nothing wrong.
Proposed is a change that would require the water board to answer to the commission. As it now stands, that board answers to no one although members are appointed to six-ycaf'teniis by county com-missionei's.
Members of the water board I .eslie Bagsby. See Water Board, Page 3A
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